Book Review: Winds of Salem

Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Publication Date: August 13, 2013
Publisher: Hyperion
Series: The Beauchamp Family # 3

Modern-day witch Freya Beauchamp is cast back in time to 1692 amongst the Salem Witch Trials by an enemy spell, as her present-day family attempts to reopen the passages of time to bring her home.
SOON TO BE A LIFETIME TELEVISION SERIES!

Freya Beauchamp is trapped in 1692, in Salem of all places, with no recollection of her past. A powerful enemy spell has sent her spiraling away so that she is separated by centuries from her mother, Joanna, and sister, Ingrid. This is not good news for a twenty-first-century witch. Not to mention the immediate threat she faces from the wealthy and influential Putnam family. When little Annie Putnam is one of the first to make accusations of witchcraft, her landowner father jumps at the opportunity to consolidate his power and expand his holdings in Puritan Salem Town. If Freya is caught using magic, she will be forced to relive the witch trials, and this time, even her immortality is in question.

Meanwhile, twenty-first-century North Hampton has its own snares. Joanna and Norm consult the Oracle for advice, and Freddie and his pixie allies search for a missing totem that could reopen the passages of time and help bring his sister home. When Ingrid bumps into an old flame, she finds that her new love for Detective Matt Noble is in doubt.

Moving between past and present, Winds of Salem's dizzying plot twists and page-turning suspense is sure to bewitch fans old and new.

“Oh, stop that, you wench! You are considered the fairest maid in all of Salem Village and Salem Town! Many speak of your beauty. I will hear none of that from you! Anyhow, it matters little nowadays. Men of high rank marry poor lasses like us here in the New World. Don’t ruin this for us. I am so very happy we are both in love!”

Perhaps was she was doing was witchcraft, the occult, magic – all considered odious, wicked, abominable, the insidious design of the devil. That was what everyone believed. But did that make it true?

The Beauchamps’ magic had grown feeble, Ingrid knew; it was a candle at the end of its wick.

The burning field of wheat and her sister in the middle of it…

I do not want to spoil this series for anyone who hasn’t already read it, so there won’t be a lot of the synopsis here. However, I will say that if you love the Salem Witch Trials, as I do, then you should start with the first book in this series. This series of novels follows the life of Freya Beauchamp as she gets herself stuck in 1692 Salem, where she is going to then live through the horrible series of events known as The Salem Witch Trials. Freya’s parents and loved ones are trying very hard to bring her back the same way she went before it is too late and she is stuck in Salem and away from her family forever.

Again, I teach high school English. I am in love with literature that focuses on the lives of the Puritans, and in this book you get to see it first hand as you follow Freya into 1692 Salem. The story flips between present day and 1692, so readers will never lose interest and the action and events just get better and better. Freya’s family plays a huge part in this, and one of my favorite characters has always been her sister, Ingrid. Ingrid has my dream job: librarian! I loved seeing more of Ingrid, and I truly feel that her character is an excellent addition to the story line.

Have I mentioned that I am SOOO excited for this book to be made into a Lifetime series? Well, I am! I have always loved reading about witches, witchcraft, and the Salem Witch Trials ever since watching Charmed for the very first time. I will say that I wish there were more details about magic in this book. I would love it if that’s all they talked about! I am just so intrigued with witchy characters; they are usually my favorite characters in any book or series!

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Hyperion in exchange for my honest review***